The Genetics of Alzheimer’s Disease

June 26, 2018

By Scott M. Weissman, MS, LCGCGenome Medical Genetic Counselor

June is Alzheimer’s disease (AD) awareness month, so we wanted to provide some education about the genetics of Alzheimer’s. AD is a condition that causes dementia (memory loss), which starts very subtly and slowly becomes more severe. It can often impact an individual’s behavior, mood,

cognition and, at times, can cause seizures and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease like tremors. There is no cure, but AD can be treated with medications and supportive care.

Who is at risk for AD?

About 1% of people in their 60s may have a diagnosis of AD. For people in their mid-80s and beyond, the percentage rises sharply to 35-40%. A person at average risk has a 10-12% lifetime chance of developing AD. Factors that can increase risk include:

One additional risk factor is an person’s genetic makeup. The vast majority (~75%) of those diagnosed with AD have no family history of the disease. Instead, their AD is likely to be related to one or more of the risk factors above. But if someone has a first degree relative (parent, child, sibling) with AD, it about doubles their chances of developing AD (20-25% lifetime risk vs. 10-12%).

Late vs. early onset

About 25% of people who develop AD have a family history of the disease. This form, called familial AD, is separated into two categories: late onset and early onset. A person is a risk for late onset familial AD if he or she has 1 or more family members diagnosed with AD after age 60 to 65. This form accounts for about 20% of AD. It’s thought to be caused by multiple genetic factors plus environmental, diet, and lifestyle factors.

Understanding the APOE gene

For the most part, there is no genetic testing that can be performed to make a formal diagnosis of late onset AD in an individual or family. However, there is one gene, called APOE, that has been linked to late onset familial disease. APOE is a gene that makes a protein called apolipoprotein E which is responsible for moving cholesterol and other fats in the blood. It is associated with high cholesterol and heart disease. Apolipoprotein E is also made in the brain and may be involved with the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain, one of the key drivers of AD. Individuals have two copies of the APOE gene (one from each parent) and the gene comes in three forms, called alleles: APOE ε2, APOE ε3 and APOE ε4. The APOE ε4 allele has been linked to the development of late onset familial AD. This table shows estimates of the lifetime risk depending on whether an individual has one or two copies of APOE ε4:

It’s important to understand that these risk numbers are just estimates — many people with one or two copies of the APOE ε4 allele never develop AD. This means that other factors in addition to the APOE ε4 contribute to late onset familial AD. Genetic testing for the APOE ε4 may be ordered to help confirm a diagnosis of AD, but it is typically not recommended to assess the risk of developing AD because of the unclear risks. However, some laboratories do include the APOE gene in their tests.

The genetics of early onset disease

Early onset familial Alzheimer’s is a relatively uncommon form of AD and accounts for less than 5% of all cases. This form is typically considered when two or more relatives have been diagnosed with AD before age 60. It is often caused by a single gene that is not working correctly (a gene mutation).

At least three genes have been identified in early onset families: PSEN1, PSEN2, and APP. If an individual has a mutation in one of these three genes, there is a very high chance–but not 100%–that the individual will develop AD. What’s more, that person’s children, siblings and parents all have a 50% chance of having the same mutated gene (this pattern is called autosomal dominant inheritance). Genetic testing can be done for these three genes to help make a diagnosis of early onset familial Alzheimer’s. Although there is no cure for AD, some people choose to undergo genetic testing for the early onset form to help with early diagnosis or interventions, participation in clinical trials, family planning, and/or financial/insurance planning.

How Genome Medical can help

Genome Medical has genetic counselors with expertise in AD who can:

talk to you about your risk of AD,

help interpret previous genetic testing, or

have a conversation about the risks and benefits of genetic testing for AD.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment to speak to a genetic counselor, get started here.

If you (or your family) have a diagnosis or symptoms that may indicate a hereditary condition, like Alzheimer’s Disease, learn more about our Advanced Genetic Care program.

If you have questions about the services Genome Medical provides, click the green chat box below or call us at (877) 688-0992.